Machu Picchu

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We traveled to Machu Picchu from Cusco by bus from the Wanchaq train station to the Pachar train station in the Sacred Valley then by train to Aguas Calientes. We bought our tickets online from Peru Rail which runs a very efficient operation. There are Peru Rail offices all over Cusco, if you do not have a ticket when you get here you can buy them in Cusco. There are three types of trains, Expedition, cheapest, Vistadome midrange and Belmond Hiram Bingham the most expensive. We took the Vistadome which has windows on the ceiling for great views. We booked a room for three nights in Aguas Calientes. We could have stayed two nights and caught the train back to Cusco a day earlier.

Many people hike to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail, if you wish to do this you need to sign up with a tour operator.

Once in Aguas Calientes you can buy your bus ticket to Machu Picchu after 2:00 PM for the next day. The cost now is $24 US dollars for a round trip, the ride is about 25 minutes. The plan is to increase prices for Machu Picchu so fewer people will come.

We bought our tickets for Machu Picchu on line. We purchased a combination ticket for Machupicchu and Huaynapucchu for the time 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. We had to enter the gate to Huaynapucchu by 8:00 or they will not let you in. The tickets to Huaynapucchu are limited to 400 people per day so you need to buy your tickets in advance or they will be sold out. The hike to Huaynapucchu is not easy and not recommended for people who are afraid of heights. I am afraid of heights and I made it so I would not let that stop you.

We hired a private guide at the gate and he hiked to Huaynapucchu with us and showed us around Machu Picchu. We were glad we hired the tour guide because he explained what the city had been like during the Inca reign and what caused their decline. At lunch we exited the park and ate at the food stand at the park entrance.

On day two we had tickets to Machu Picchu and Montana. This is another mountain that cannot be hiked unless you buy a ticket. These tickets are not as hard to get as the Huaynapucchu tickets. The mountain is foggy in the morning so it is best to time it so you arrive at the top around 10:00 A.M. The clouds clear and you get a beautiful view. If you hike later it is hot and that makes the hike harder. We spent the afternoon enjoying Machu Picchu.

Day three we took the train back to Cusco. Machu Picchu is a beautiful place and if you can put it on your bucket list?

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Comments

[Stan Skiba]

Machu Picchu
Some gorgeous shots from the top of the world Cindy, that has to be very inspirational. Looks like you are not having any problems with the altitude. You are also having some fantastic weather.